CAREERS IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY

The Basque Country represents one of the largest industrial concentrations in Spain and is immersed in the race towards competitiveness in the global and highly industrialised economy. It is where highly qualified professionals from all over the world are invited to play a key role.

The climate, the influence of the sea, an attractive mixture of villages, mountains, hills and abundant greenery, along with an internationally renowned cuisine, make the Basque Country a place full of surprises.

ORGANISATIONS

KEY STATISTICS AT A GLANCE

€30,459

GDP PER CAPITA

23.9%

INDUSTRIAL GDP

1660

INTERNATIONALISED COMPANIES

60,000

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

2.03%

EXPENDITURE IN R&D

130%

PRODUCTIVITY PER EMPLOYEE

READY FOR THE FUTURE

Discover one of the regions with the highest quality of life in the world, as well as high levels of political and financial autonomy. The Basque Country is the only European sub-state with its own tax system and certain legislative and executive powers.

In addition to being one of the most attractive places to work and do business, the Basque Country can also be considered a knowledge hub. This is thanks to the significant public investment in R&D and to the high proportion of active population holding a university degree and working as researchers in the business sector.

RELOCATION & BE BASQUE DUAL CAREER CENTER

The Be Basque Dual Career Centre is a pioneering and a unique centre for the development of a dual career for internationally mobile couples. The centre is backed up with the collaboration of a number of regional social and labour stakeholders. Its main goal is to provide practical information, contacts and support to help you develop in a professional career, get training, find a job, start a business (entrepreneurship) and/or take up volunteering.

Main religions: Catholicism (currently more than 75% of the weddings are just civil)

HOUSING

Based on the OECD Regional Well-Being Index, the Basque Country is better positioned than some European regions such as Berlin, Hamburg or Brussels, with regard to housing. In general, when compared to other big talent hubs, the Basque Country has more big houses for families at reasonable prices.

If you are going to stay in the community for less than 1 year it is advisable to rent a property. If you are planning to stay in the Basque Country for an indefinite period of time, then buying a property could be of interest.

There are different sorts of schools including public, concertado (private education subsidised by the Basque Government) and private schools. Teaching in all of these is in Basque or Spanish. Pursuing an improvement in the students’ level of English however, means that more subjects are now being taught in this language.

International schools such as the American, English, French or German schools, are present in the country, although expats still prefer to take their children to other schools.

The country also has one of the highest percentages of people with tertiary education in the world.

Based on a survey by OECD, the working hours’ average in the Basque Country stood at 1,534 in 2014. In comparison to other European countries, Basque Country is ranked fifth with fewer working hours, ahead of other countries such as the United Kingdom, Finland or Sweden.

In the Basque Country, companies are flexible and allow their employees to take some time off when getting married, celebrating births and mourning bereavements. By law, sick leave, maternity leave and paternity leave are also offered to employees. Full-time employees have a minimum of 30 days of paid holiday each year in addition to public holidays.

The Basque Country has a comprehensive health infrastructure which meets the needs of its citizens through the Basque Health Service, Osakidetza, run by the Basque Government, and through private health centres.

As a foreign worker, you pay Social Security contributions and receive a Social Security Card showing your personal details and social security number. With the social security card, you can apply for an individual health card in the health centre closest to your home. This allows you to obtain free treatment, both medical and hospital, for you, the card holder, and your family.

According to the Financial Times, the Basque Country is the best medium-sized European region for Connectivity. Located between the peninsular markets and the rest of Europe, the Basque Country holds a strategic position in the centre of the European Atlantic Axis. Its first-class logistics and transport infrastructures are perfectly connected with each other, as well as with the major European cities.

All our major cities are within one hour distance by car. They also have highly efficient buses in urban areas, trams, an underground and one main plus four smaller airports spread around different cities.

DISCOVER THE BASQUE COUNTRY

Our particular identity

The Basque Country has a strong sense of belonging and a proud identity. It is a home to a very old, but increasingly vibrant language whose origins are still unknown: Basque. This is a very special region where the mountains and the sea play Basque ‘pelota’ with the clouds and there is a blend of traditional and modern cultural activities.

Get to know us

The Basque Country is well positioned in any Quality of Life ranking. This is thanks to the fact that the spending on public healthcare per inhabitant is among the highest in the world and that it is one of the safest places in the world.

The Basques have a highly-regarded approach to hard work. At the same time they preserve a sense of familiarity and social responsibility, which is reflected in their high position in the Gini index with regards to social equity.

The Basque Country, with its welcoming and open character, has already welcomed many people from other countries, but we would like you to come and meet us too.

ABOUT BIZKAIA TALENT

Bizkaia Talent is a non-profit organisation promoted by the Provincial Council of Biscay in collaboration with a group of major and cutting-edge Basque companies, research centres and universities. We are a leading model in Europe with regards to mobility and career development, as well as professional and personal support of highly qualified professionals and researchers.

In short, Bizkaia Talent is a platform aimed at attracting, retaining and building stable links with talent and at fostering innovation and advanced knowledge within representation of strategic sector organisations (e.g. Automotive, Aeronautics, Energy, Biosciences and ICT) and located in the Basque Country.

Bizkaia Talent is present in the leading international science, research, employment and mobility fairs and trade shows to bring vacancies in strategic areas for the Basque Country to highly qualified professionals and researchers. We also provide the opportunity to know more about the Basque Country and its companies. If we are in your city, drop in and visit us!

The Bizkaia Talent Financial Aid Programme has been highly appraised by the European Commission (EC), which decided to become a co-financing organisation. The purpose of our programme is to foster and facilitate the hiring, promotion (learning/training) and integration of researchers in the Historical Territory of Biscay in the Basque Country.

Bizkaia Talent brings a wide variety of vacancies, in business or research areas, to highly qualified professionals. It also enables professionals to contact other professionals or Basque organisations through the Basque Talent Map.

Bizkaia Talent attends most leading international science, research, employment and mobility fairs and trade shows. Our aim is to connect highly qualified professionals and researchers with the vacancies that are of strategic importance to the Basque Country. We also aim to provide you with the opportunity to know more about the country and its companies. If we are in your city, drop in and visit us!